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Biology

A concentration in biology provides a fundamental understanding of those organic systems upon which our lives are based, from cellular life functions to animal and plant processes, human physiology, and ecological balance and disruption. The biology concentration also provides a solid background that will, when supplemented by additional coursework in the sciences, prepare the student for graduate studies in biology or in the health-related fields. This concentration nicely complements any other concentration centered in the sciences; in addition, it can complement work in the social sciences or the arts and be coordinated with such concentrations as environmental studies, psychology, or movement analysis. A number of graduates who specialized in biology at Simon’s Rock have quite successfully gone on to medical school.

Curriculum

The areas of study covered by biology are quite broad; therefore, a high degree of latitude is given the student who chooses this concentration in shaping the focus of the individual program. During Moderation, the student, with the committee’s help, outlines a course plan suitable to the student’s interests and future goals that includes the following:

At least five courses, chosen from the list below, at least one of which—chosen in consultation with the Moderation Committee and the major advisor—must be at the 300-level or above.

Natural Science 410 Research Methods
or Social Science 309 Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences

Recent Senior Theses

“Estrogen Receptor–Alpha Activity in the Spinal Cord in Murine Models of Acute and Chronic Pain”
“The Naturally Occurring Woody Plants of Simon’s Rock: An Identification Manual Exclusive of Salix and Rubus”
“Walking with Wolves: An Exploration of Signal Transduction Pathways and Investigation into What Happens to Those Protein Cascades When Cells Are Exposed to HIV-1 gp120”
“Formation Mechanism and Carcinogenicity of Acrylamide in Food”
“Investigating the Roles of Thrombopoietin in Tissue Colonization by Borrelia hermsii”
“A Bioassessment of Alford Brook”
“Biological Terrorism: The Past and the Prospects”
“The Why of Y: An Analysis of Morphological Variation in the Unisexual-Bisexual Nactus pelagicus Complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae)”